Whether you're hiring or looking for work, here's what you need to know about working with us.
There is no upfront cost to work with The Hire Company. For direct hire placements, we charge a one-time placement fee based on a percentage of the hired candidate's first-year salary, only after a successful placement is made. For temporary and temp-to-hire placements, we bill an hourly rate that covers wages, payroll taxes, workers' compensation, and our service fee. You pay only for hours worked. No retainers. No search fees. No charge if we don't place someone.
We also offer both retained and contingency search options depending on the nature of the role.
For urgent temporary needs, we can often provide qualified candidates the same day. For temporary-to-hire and direct hire roles, we typically present strong, vetted candidates within 24 to 72 hours of a confirmed job order. Timing can vary based on role specifics, market conditions, and responsiveness, but we always set clear expectations upfront.
As a boutique, woman-owned firm, you work directly with experienced recruiters who specialize in administrative and operational roles, including HR, finance, legal, and executive support. With a focused approach and a network built over decades, every candidate we present is thoughtfully vetted and aligned to your needs.
Yes. Every direct hire placement is backed by a replacement guarantee. If a placed employee doesn't work out within the guarantee period, we conduct a replacement search at no additional fee. We stand behind every placement we make because our reputation depends on long-term fit, not just filled seats.
Yes, we partner with employers across the country. While our roots are in Chicago, our reach is national. We take the time to truly understand your business, culture, and hiring needs, allowing us to deliver thoughtful, well-aligned candidates wherever you're located. We support on-site, hybrid, and remote roles through our deep, long-standing network.
We specialize in administrative and executive support, HR, finance and accounting, legal support, sales and marketing, and customer service roles, with particular depth in C-Suite and executive support. We place across direct hire, temp-to-hire, and temporary engagements. Learn more about how we work on our employers page, or if your role falls outside these areas, reach out and we'll tell you honestly whether we're the right fit.
Our process from your side looks like this:
We work with companies of all sizes. Some of our longest-standing client relationships are with small and mid-size businesses where we function as an on-call extension of a lean HR team. We're also experienced with large professional services firms building out entire departments. The size of your company matters less than the seriousness of the search.
Our focus is on the role function, not a single industry vertical, which means our candidate network spans many sectors. We regularly place into professional services (law firms, consulting, accounting firms, financial services), healthcare administration, technology companies, real estate, nonprofit organizations, media, and general corporate environments. If you're hiring for a professional support or operations role, we're likely a fit regardless of your industry.
Yes. We can run parallel searches across roles and departments. Because we're a boutique firm, we're selective about what we take on, and we'll tell you upfront if a scope or timeline isn't realistic. When we commit to a search, we commit fully. Our strength is quality over volume, so we're the right partner when you want the right hire, not just a fast one.
Yes, our services are completely free for candidates. The Hire Company never charges any fees at any stage of the process. We're paid by our client companies when a successful placement is made, so our focus is on connecting you with the right opportunity.
Here's what to expect from your side:
We won't ghost you. If there's an update, you'll hear from us. If there's nothing new to share, we'll tell you that too.
We specialize in administrative and executive support, HR, finance and accounting, legal support, sales and marketing, and customer service roles, with particular depth in C-Suite and executive support. We place across direct hire, temp-to-hire, and temporary roles nationally, including remote, hybrid, and on-site positions, with strong concentration in Chicago and the Midwest.
See what's open now on our current openings page, or learn more about how we work with candidates.
It means we don't have an active role right now that's a strong match for your background, not that you're out of consideration or that your resume wasn't reviewed. We keep every resume on file and reach out directly when a role comes in that fits. We don't send automated rejection emails because the honest answer is: we don't know when the right role will show up. When it does and you're a match, you'll hear from us. You're always welcome to follow up or send an updated resume.
We place candidates nationally. While we're headquartered in Chicago and have deep roots there, we work with candidates and employers across the country. We actively recruit for remote positions, hybrid roles, and on-site positions outside Illinois. If you're based anywhere in the US and your background fits the roles we work on, we're worth connecting with.
It depends on your background, what you're open to, and what roles we're actively working on. We don't place every candidate who reaches out, but when we do have a strong match, things can move quickly. For temporary roles with an immediate need, placement can happen within days. For direct hire or temp-to-hire roles, a realistic timeline is a few weeks from first contact to start date. The clearer you are about what you're looking for, the easier it is for us to recognize the right fit when it comes in.
Both. Some candidates come to us with an urgent need, they're between jobs and need to move quickly. Others are employed but quietly open to the right thing. We work with both equally. If you're exploring, we'll keep your search confidential and only present your background to employers with your explicit approval. There's no pressure and no timeline. Send your resume when you're ready to have a conversation, whatever your situation.
No. We work with candidates remotely all the time through phone and video calls, digital document submission, and remote interviews. For candidates being considered for local Chicago roles that require in-person work, proximity obviously matters. But for remote roles, hybrid positions, or national searches, your location is not a barrier to working with us. If your background fits, geography is a secondary consideration.
Yes. Salary negotiation is one of the most tangible ways a recruiter adds value. We know what the market is paying for your role, experience level, and geography, and we advocate on your behalf throughout the offer process. We'll tell you honestly whether an offer is competitive, walk you through how to think about the full package, and handle the back-and-forth with the employer so you don't have to. You're never navigating an offer alone.
Temporary work through us comes with real benefits:
Temporary work is also a legitimate path to permanent employment. Many of our temp-to-hire placements convert, and temporary assignments help candidates build experience, access companies they might not otherwise get in front of, and stay active in the market while waiting for the right long-term role.
If you refer someone to us and we successfully place them, you receive a referral bonus, paid after the placement is successful and the guarantee period is fulfilled. The process is simple: send us their name and contact information, tell us whether you'd like to be mentioned or stay anonymous, and we handle everything from there. No forms, no application, no hoops. It's our way of recognizing that great candidates often know other great candidates.
The Hire Company, sometimes referred to as The Chicago Hire Company, is a national boutique staffing and recruiting firm specializing in direct hire, temp-to-hire, and temporary placements across administrative, HR, finance, legal, sales, and customer service roles, with particular depth in C-Suite and executive support. We are woman-owned and have been placing candidates since 1999. Our headquarters are in Chicago, Illinois, and we place for employers and candidates across the United States. We work with organizations of all sizes, from growing small businesses to large national firms, and we're known for honest communication, intentional placements, and long-term relationships on both sides of the search.
Yes. The Hire Company is a WBENC-certified, woman-owned business founded by Jessica Klayman Kraft. Independently run since 1999, being woman-owned is a core part of who we are.
The Hire Company has been placing candidates since 1999, over 25 years. That tenure reflects something important: we've built relationships with employers and candidates that last well beyond a single placement. The market has changed enormously since 1999, and our experience across those cycles informs how we approach every search. We've placed thousands of candidates and developed deep knowledge of what makes placements work long-term versus short-term.
Reach out however is easiest:
Our office is located at 227 W. Monroe Street, 21st Floor, Chicago, IL 60606. We respond to all inquiries, typically within one business day.
If you didn't find what you were looking for, reach out. We're real people and we respond fast.